The case for a Ruger LCR 38 Special +P revolver fits the H6+XLR adapter (or XY mic) like a glove.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Zoom H6 for studio-quality live performance recordings
- Thread starter N. Kentucky Bass
- Start date
The case for a Ruger LCR 38 Special +P revolver fits the H6+XLR adapter (or XY mic) like a glove.
I'm thinking of getting one of these for a quintet. I'm thinking using the zoom x/y placed in front of the drum kit, DI bass, DI electric cello, mic guitar and mic sax. Are the stock mics good enough for a drum kit. Also do you know of a way to mount the H6 on a mic stand?
The H6 mount is a standard female camera screw. You'd need to get a converter in order to screw the H6 onto a standard mic stand male screw.
As for micing a drum kit, especially in a quintet, your overall recording will probably be disappointing if you're expecting CD-quality sound. Nothing is more complex to mic than a drum kit. With just a stereo input, the kick will sound weak, the snare won't have the highly present snap, the high-end clarity of the cymbals will be drowned out by the band, and there will be other deficiencies if you're expecting studio-grade sound - especially if you're close micing other instruments and taking DI inputs. In particular, you will have no ability to fine tune the kit in post. The overall sound wouldn't be the end of the world .... BUT you will have to position the H6 close to the kit. That means there will be a Medusa-like tangle of wires pouring out of the H6 right in front of the drummer's face. Pretty distracting from an audience perspective. You'd be better off buying the dual XLR adapter and mounting a stereo mic in front of the drum kit.
P.S. This video shows an idea of how to mic a drum kit with four mics. Probably the most basic arrangement you can get away with if you want some measure of control in post. If all you've got for input is an H6, you'd need to track the kit first and then track the rest of the band playing to the drum kit recording with earphones or IEMs.
Last edited:
My new (rebooted) 3-piece band project, The Stormy Weathermen, just had its first gig. I used the Zoom H6 to record it and created a video of one song. The music is original instrumental in a surf/rock style.
The six inputs included:
Four video cameras were mounted around the band; I edited the feeds with Sony Movie Studio Platinum 13 and synchronized with the processed WAV file.
Band website at: Link Removed
The six inputs included:
- Bass - Radial JDV DI
- Guitar - Shure SM57
- Snare - Shure SM57
- Kick - Sennheiser MD421
- Drum Kit Overhead - Audio-Technica AT825 stereo mic
Four video cameras were mounted around the band; I edited the feeds with Sony Movie Studio Platinum 13 and synchronized with the processed WAV file.
Band website at: Link Removed
P.S. I just published a blog post where I explained in more detail how this video was produced:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
We all hate it when gear fails. On Sunday I used the H6 to record test placements of a Shure Beta91a condenser boundary mic tests on a Cajon (best result is below). After the test, I wanted to record our practice session but when I went to power the H6 back on, it wouldn't boot up. Saw the spash but it instantly went to black. Hate it when that happens! So Monday morning I wrote to my customer service rep at Sweetwater (Bob Mondok) where I purchased the unit. I'm a bit under the gun here as we have a critical recording session this Saturday and a gig / video session to record next week. I explained the situation and Bob took over. Today a new unit arrived via Fedex overnight. No questions asked. Wow! So now you know where to buy your music gear! 
FYI, I bought the original H6 when they first came out in Sept. 2013. It was serial # 1939. The replacement unit is #46,039 so it sounds like Zoom is selling a few of these.
FWIW, here is a recording of the Cajon. I placed the Beta91a inside the Cajon on its bottom on top of a dish towel used for padding; the mic faced the front of the Cajon. I had the mic's mid cut switch on. This is what the mic looks like:
In post I added compression of 2.2:1 and high passed at 75Hz. This will be great for studio recording or live gigs! No mic stands to get knocked by the percussionist, hassle free.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
FYI, I bought the original H6 when they first came out in Sept. 2013. It was serial # 1939. The replacement unit is #46,039 so it sounds like Zoom is selling a few of these.
FWIW, here is a recording of the Cajon. I placed the Beta91a inside the Cajon on its bottom on top of a dish towel used for padding; the mic faced the front of the Cajon. I had the mic's mid cut switch on. This is what the mic looks like:
In post I added compression of 2.2:1 and high passed at 75Hz. This will be great for studio recording or live gigs! No mic stands to get knocked by the percussionist, hassle free.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Hi,
When you use the unit as an audio interface to record all 6 tracks with a computer does it send all tracks as individual tracks for editing or does it only output left and right into one channel ?
For example if I wanted to record a my daw would I have 6 tracks I can edit, 1 track or 1 track of stereo?
Thanks
When you use the unit as an audio interface to record all 6 tracks with a computer does it send all tracks as individual tracks for editing or does it only output left and right into one channel ?
For example if I wanted to record a my daw would I have 6 tracks I can edit, 1 track or 1 track of stereo?
Thanks
You have the option to do both. Typically I record in individual tracks, which allows granular processing with DAW, track by track. You can also set pairs of tracks to record in stereo, such as 1&2, 3&4, 5&6. You could have one stereo pair (which I sometimes do with my Audio Technica AT825 stereo microphone) and four individual tracks. It's all up to however you want to set it.
Thanks for the reply. Just to clarify I can edit up to 6 single tracks in my daw and it's not a full mix down of the sIx tracks?
I'm confused about the 6 in 2 out. Not sure if it meant 2 out to speakers or two channels out to my daw or one track of the six already mixed.
Have to be able to isolate each after the recording in my daw. The stereo pair, or individual tracks mixed as one doesn't fit my need. I think it's only if I take my laptop to the gig with me I can do it the way I need.
If I save to the sd card and then exported to my daw I wouldn't be able to Isolate?
Thanks
I'm confused about the 6 in 2 out. Not sure if it meant 2 out to speakers or two channels out to my daw or one track of the six already mixed.
Have to be able to isolate each after the recording in my daw. The stereo pair, or individual tracks mixed as one doesn't fit my need. I think it's only if I take my laptop to the gig with me I can do it the way I need.
If I save to the sd card and then exported to my daw I wouldn't be able to Isolate?
Thanks
There is no "mix down." Tracks are saved as individual files on the SD card. A stereo track is also an individual file, but shows as a standard two-channel stereo file in the DAW.
Read the manual. All is specified clearly there as well.
Invalid Link Removed
Last edited:
Thanks for the help I have ordered one Based on your knowledge.
As with most in my generation I'm of the mindset 'who has time for manuals when you can ask a guy who knows a guy who met a guy once who seen a guy that said it worked" mentality. I reallt need to sorr that out. Will report back with my findings.
As with most in my generation I'm of the mindset 'who has time for manuals when you can ask a guy who knows a guy who met a guy once who seen a guy that said it worked" mentality. I reallt need to sorr that out. Will report back with my findings.
I use mine to record the gigs of my quartet.
1. Sax split from pa mic
2. Guitar sennheiser 906 draped over amp
3. Bass di
4. Built-in mics for drums
It does a decent job and I only need one extra mic stand. For the money it can't be beat IMHO. I plan on getting the adapter for 2 extra xlr inputs at some point in the future.
1. Sax split from pa mic
2. Guitar sennheiser 906 draped over amp
3. Bass di
4. Built-in mics for drums
It does a decent job and I only need one extra mic stand. For the money it can't be beat IMHO. I plan on getting the adapter for 2 extra xlr inputs at some point in the future.
The guitar sounds great and he is a great player. Love this surf-sounds and Daphne Blue as a colour...
I'm kind of surprised that the guitar sounds much better - sorry! - than the bass, although the bass was recorded with a very good DI.
The bass sounds a bit undefined. Maybe I'm just expecting that Tick-Tack like sound when it comes to surf bass (a Fender VI or a Precision with Flatwounds played with a pick or plucked in an aggressive way and string muting to get that attack).
I did listen to it at moderate to low volume on Focal Alpha 50 through a Focusrite Forte.
Among the companies who produce gear for the lower budget market, Zoom is maybe the best. What they put into their gear for the price is very very good and their products seem to be really engineered with the user in mind but they can't do miracles.
I think the title of the thread is a bit misleading.
Last edited:
I sold that bass due to its lack of clarity. I'm now using a modded Fender P-bass with the split-coil pickups. Much better!
I'm fairly new to recording but have been using the zoom and in my opinion it's a fantastic bit of kit for the money. Very versatile and portable.
I have a question about re-amping. if I wanted to send a signal to a re-amp box from my computer via the zoom how would I do it? Would I go from the line out, the headphones or is there a way to turn one of the xlr channels into an output send?
thanks
I have a question about re-amping. if I wanted to send a signal to a re-amp box from my computer via the zoom how would I do it? Would I go from the line out, the headphones or is there a way to turn one of the xlr channels into an output send?
thanks
Can't do this to my knowledge. The H6 is mainly a recorder, and does not simultaneously play and record. You could take the recorded WAV file and play it from a device independent of the H6 into the re-amp box. Try putting the recorded WAV file into an iPad or other music player, hook that into a mixer, and send the signal from the mixer into the reamp box. I haven't used a re-amper with the H6, but I've sent the iPad sourced signal via mixer into the H6 while playing against that with my bass and recorded the bass on a different channel. This made it very easy in post to synch the bass with the original WAV file.
The H6 is not like a ProTools station so there are limitations. It is what it is.
Last edited:
Thanks. I've thought about using the headphone send out and then using an adaptor to put that to an effect pedal then back in. Only problem is I can't listen to it while doing it so defeats the point.
Your idea might work thanks for the suggestion will try it out and update
Your idea might work thanks for the suggestion will try it out and update
